U.S. patent application number 11/519272 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-24 for web camera integral with a clasp.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kye Systems Corp.. Invention is credited to Zai-Fu Yang.
Application Number | 20080022337 11/519272 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38972885 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080022337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Zai-Fu |
January 24, 2008 |
Web camera integral with a clasp
Abstract
A web camera has a bracket, a camera module, and two connecting
assemblies. The bracket has a front bracket and a rear bracket
mounted pivotally to each other. The camera module is mounted
pivotally in the bracket. The connecting assemblies are mounted
respectively in two sides of the bracket to mount the front and
rear brackets pivotally to each other and to mount the camera
module pivotally in the bracket. Each connecting assembly has a
torsion spring respectively connecting securely to the front and
rear brackets to provide clamping force to the bracket. Therefore,
the web camera can be clamped at a desired place.
Inventors: |
Yang; Zai-Fu; (Sanchung
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOPER & DUNHAM, LLP
1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Assignee: |
Kye Systems Corp.
|
Family ID: |
38972885 |
Appl. No.: |
11/519272 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 13/022 20130101;
F16M 11/10 20130101; G06F 1/1607 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/105 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/173 20060101
H04N007/173 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2006 |
TW |
095126918 |
Claims
1. A web camera integral with a clasp comprising: a housing
comprising a front bracket and a rear bracket; a camera module
mounted pivotally in the housing; and two connecting assemblies
mounted respectively in two sides of the bracket, mounted between
the bracket and the camera module to mount the camera module
pivotally in the housing and mounted between the front and rear
brackets to connect the front and rear brackets pivotally to each
other, and each connecting assembly having a torsion spring
connecting securely to the front and rear brackets.
2. The web camera integral with a clasp as claimed in claim 1,
wherein each connecting assembly further comprises a sleeve
extending through the camera module and the bracket and having an
axially central hole; and the torsion springs are mounted
respectively around the sleeves.
3. The web camera integral with a clasp as claimed in claim 2,
wherein each connecting assembly further comprises an inner
fastener extending through the camera module and mounted securely
in the central hole in the corresponding sleeve; and an outer
fastener extending through the bracket and mounted securely in the
central hole in the corresponding sleeve.
4. The web camera integral with a clasp as claimed in claim 3,
wherein the central holes in the sleeves are threaded holes; and
the inner and outer fasteners are screws to be screwed respectively
into the threaded holes in the sleeves.
5. The web camera integral with a clasp as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the camera module comprises an inner frame mounted
pivotally in the bracket; an outer frame attached securely to the
inner frame; and a lens mounted securely in the outer frame.
6. The web camera integral with a clasp as claimed in claim 5,
wherein the front bracket has a rear surface; and two inner collars
formed separately on the rear surface of the front bracket, and
each inner collar having an inside end and an outside end; the rear
bracket has a front surface; and two outer collars formed
separately on the front surface of the rear bracket, and each outer
collar having an outside end and an inside end adjacent to the
outside end of a corresponding inner collar; the inner frame is
mounted between the inner collars of the front bracket and has two
ends mounted between the inner collars of the front bracket; and
two mounting holes formed respectively through the two ends of the
inner frame and aligning with the collars of the bracket; and each
sleeve extends through a corresponding one of the outer collars of
the rear bracket, extends through a corresponding inner collar of
the front bracket and extends through a corresponding mounting hole
in the camera module.
7. The web camera integral with a clasp as claimed in claim 6,
wherein each sleeve has a sidewall; and two protrusions formed
oppositely on the sidewall of the sleeve and abutting the
corresponding inner collar of the front bracket.
8. The web camera integral with a clasp as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the front bracket has an opening formed through the front
bracket and formed between the collars; the rear bracket has a free
end; and a recess formed in the free end of the rear bracket and
aligning with the opening in the front bracket; and the camera
module corresponds to the opening in the front bracket and the
recess in the rear bracket.
9. A computer input device, comprising a housing, and a body having
an electrical unit, wherein the housing has a free end and a clip
end, and a compartment is formed between the free end and the clip
end; wherein the body is fully received within the compartment, and
the body is pivoted within the compartment.
10. A computer input device comprising a clasp, and a body having
an electrical unit, wherein the clasp has a compartment and the
body is fully received within the compartment, and the body is
pivoted within the compartment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a web camera, and more
particularly to a web camera that is formed integrally with a
clasp.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] With the development of the technology, peripherals of
computers such as web cameras are introduced into the market
gradually. User can transmit the vision of the web cameras through
the Internet. To reach desirable quality of the vision and to shoot
the vision conveniently, the web camera needs to be attached
securely at a desired place.
[0005] One of the conventional ways to attach a web camera securely
at a desired place is to stick the web camera at the desired place
by adhesive. However, when the web camera has to be moved, the
adhesive is hard to be removed and is also difficult to be cleaned
up.
[0006] Another one of the conventional ways to attach a web camera
securely at a desired place is used with a clasp. However, the web
camera with the clasp occupies a large space. In the trend of
thinness and lightness, it can not meet the demand of the
consumers.
[0007] Therefore, the invention provides a web camera integral with
a clasp to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
web camera integrally formed with a clasp. The web camera has a
bracket, a camera module, and two connecting assemblies. The
bracket has a front bracket and a rear bracket mounted pivotally to
each other. The camera module is mounted pivotally in the bracket.
The connecting assemblies are mounted respectively in two sides of
the bracket to mount the front and rear brackets pivotally to each
other and to mount the camera module pivotally in the bracket. Each
connecting assembly has a torsion spring respectively connecting
securely to the front and rear brackets to provide clamping force
to the bracket. Therefore, the web camera can be clamped at a
desired place.
[0009] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a web camera integral with a
clasp in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the web camera
integral with a clasp in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of the web camera
integral with a clasp in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of the web camera integral with a
clasp in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an operational side view of the web camera
integral with a clasp in FIG. 1; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is an operational side view of the web camera
integral with a clasp in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 2, a web camera integral with a
clasp in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing
(10), a camera module (20) and two connecting assemblies (30).
[0017] The housing (10) comprises a front bracket (11), a rear
bracket (12) and two pads (13).
[0018] The front bracket (11) has a front surface, a rear surface,
a clip end, a free end, two inner collars (112) and an opening
(111). The inner collars (112) are formed separately on the rear
surface of the front bracket (11). Each inner collar (112) has an
inside end and an outside end. The opening (111) is formed through
the front bracket (11) and is formed between the collars (112). The
rear bracket (12) connects pivotally to the front bracket (11) and
has a front surface, a clip end, a free end, two outer collars
(122) and a recess (121). The outer collars (122) are formed
separately on the front surface of the rear bracket (12). Each
outer collar (122) has an inside end and an outside end. The inside
ends of the outer collar (122) are respectively adjacent to the
outside ends of the inner collar (112). The recess (121) is formed
in the free end of the rear bracket (12) and aligns with the
opening (111) in the front bracket (11).
[0019] The pads (13) are mounted between the front and rear
brackets (11, 12). The pads (13) are attached respectively to the
rear surface of the front bracket (11) and the front surface of the
rear bracket (12).
[0020] The camera module (20) is mounted pivotally in the housing
(10), corresponds to the opening (111) in the front bracket (11)
and the recess (121) in the rear bracket (12) and comprises an
outer frame (21), an inner frame (23), a lens (22) and an
electrical unit. The outer frame (21) is mounted in the opening
(111) in the front bracket (11) and has an aperture (212) formed
through the outer frame (21). The inner frame (23) is mounted
between the inner collars (112) of the front bracket (11), is
attached securely to the outer frame (21) and has two ends, two
mounting holes (211) and two annular grooves (213). The ends of the
inner frame (23) are mounted between the inner collars (112) of the
front bracket (11). The mounting holes (211) are formed
respectively through the two ends of the inner frame (23) and align
with the collars (112, 122) of the bracket (10). The annular
grooves (213) are formed respectively around the mounting holes
(211) in the inner frame (23). The lens (22) is mounted securely in
the aperture (212) in the outer frame (21).
[0021] The connecting assemblies (30) are mounted respectively in
two sides of the housing (10), are mounted between the housing (10)
and the camera module (20) to mount the camera module (20)
pivotally in the housing (10) and are mounted between the front and
rear brackets (11, 12) to connect the front and rear brackets (11,
12) pivotally to each other. Each connecting assembly (30)
comprises a sleeve (31), a washer (32), a torsion spring (33), an
inner fastener (34) and an outer fastener (35).
[0022] With further reference to FIG. 3, the sleeve (31) extends
through the corresponding outer collar (122) of the rear bracket
(12), extends through the corresponding inner collar (112) of the
front bracket (11) and extends through the corresponding mounting
hole (211) in the camera module (20). The sleeve (31) has a
sidewall, an axially central hole (312) and two protrusions (311).
The protrusions (311) are formed oppositely on the sidewall of the
sleeve (31) and abut the corresponding inner collar (112) of the
front bracket (11). The central hole (312) in the sleeve (31) may
be a threaded hole.
[0023] The washer (32) is mounted in the corresponding notch (213)
of the inner frame (23) of the camera module (20) and is mounted
between the inner frame (23) and the corresponding inner collar
(112) of the front bracket (11).
[0024] The torsion spring (33) is mounted around the sleeve (31)
and connects securely to the inner and outer collars (112, 122) of
the front and rear brackets (11, 12). Therefore, the clip ends of
the front and rear brackets (11, 12) can clamp an object.
[0025] The inner fastener (34) extends through the corresponding
mounting hole (211) of the inner frame (21) and is mounted securely
in the central hole (312) of the corresponding sleeve (31). The
outer fastener (35) extends through the corresponding outer collar
(122) of the rear bracket (12) and is mounted securely in the
central hole (312) of the corresponding sleeve (31). The inner and
outer fasteners (34) hold the bracket (10) and the camera module
(20) together. The inner fastener (34) connects the camera module
(20) pivotally to the front bracket (11). The outer fastener (35)
connects the rear bracket (12) pivotally to the front bracket (11).
The inner and outer fasteners (34, 35) may be screws.
[0026] With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the user tends to
clamp the web camera as described at a desired place such as a
panel. The user forces the top (free-moving end) of the front and
rear brackets (11, 12) to move them close so the bottom (a clip
end) of the front and rear brackets (11, 12) move away from each
other. Then the clip ends of the front and rear brackets (11, 12)
are mounted across the panel. When the user releases the free ends
of the front and rear brackets (11, 12), the torsion springs (33)
forces the clip ends of the front and rear brackets (11, 12) to
clamp the panel. Therefore, the web camera is fastened on the
panel.
[0027] With further reference to FIG. 6, the visual angle of the
lens (22) is adjustable. Because the camera module (20) is mounted
pivotally in the bracket (10) by the connecting assemblies (30),
the user can easily pivot the camera module (20) to adjust the
visual angle of the lens (22). The screwing force generated by the
inner fastener (34) for coupling to the sleeve (31) is adjustable
such that the friction between the washer (32) and inner collar
(112) can be varied to facilitate the angle adjustment of the lens
(22).
[0028] The advantages of the web camera of the present invention
are numerous. The housing (10) not only accommodates the camera
module (20) but also has a clamping function, such that the camera
module (20) is fully received within in the housing (10). Meanwhile
a compartment or space is formed between the front bracket (11) and
the rear bracket (12), and the camera module 20 can be pivoted in
the compartment. Therefore, the one-piece design of the present
invention to mount the camera module (20) in the bracket (10)
decreases the volume of the web camera. By the torsion springs
(33), the web camera has a self-clamping function so is easy to be
positioned at any desired place.
[0029] Besides, a person in the ordinary skilled in the art is easy
to change the camera module (20) of the present invention to any
computer-input device that includes but is not limited to a
wireless receiver, a microphone, a micro speaker, a micro card
reader/writer or a pen drive. Therefore, the present invention is
applied for many kind of the computer-input devices.
[0030] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and features of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made
in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *